Wagga Girls: A celebration of life, love and friendship at 38 Morrow St

Geoff Burch, President of the Wagga Wagga District Historical Society has kindly given me permission to share his incredible research on 38 Morrow St.

In Geoff’s words, this is “an article tracing the history of a heritage building that dates back, in parts, to 1877. Located at 38 Morrow Street, Wagga Wagga. Initially a Temperance Hall, it has served as a residence, a surgery, a venue for various schools, a boarding house, a hostel, and in more contemporary times, as a restaurant and cafe with boutique accommodation.

It has known many names, Temperance Hall, St Elmo, Wollundry, Park View Mansions, The Manor, and Mates Gully. It has strong connections with the family of Dr Thomas William Watkins Burgess, and has served as accommodation for many hundreds of service women, and young men and women of the Wagga Wagga district. This forty page booklet, features many photos, both black & white and colour, and includes details of the building and the people associated with it.”

Thank you to Geoff and the WWDHS for this gift of knowledge.